28 Even a fool (A)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

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28 Even a fool, when he (A)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

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A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only (A)in expressing his opinion.

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A fool does not delight in understanding,
But (A)in revealing his own [a]mind.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:2 Lit heart

A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites (A)a beating.
(B)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.

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A fool’s lips [a]bring strife,
And his mouth invites (A)beatings.
A (B)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:6 Lit come with

19 (A)Better is a poor person who (B)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

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On Life and Conduct

19 (A)Better is a poor person who (B)walks in his integrity
Than a person who is perverse in [a]speech and is a fool.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:1 Lit his lips

10 (A)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for (B)a slave to rule over princes.

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10 Luxury is (A)not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a (B)slave to rule over princes.

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29 Condemnation is ready for (A)scoffers,
    and (B)beating for the backs of fools.

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29 [a]Judgments are prepared for (A)scoffers,
And (B)beatings for the backs of fools.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:29 LXX Rods

It is an honor for a man to (A)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.

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(A)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [a]quarrel.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
    for he will despise the good sense of your words.

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(A)Do not speak [a]to be heard by a fool,
For he will (B)despise the wisdom of your words.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 23:9 Lit in the ears of a

Wisdom is (A)too high for a fool;
    in (B)the gate he does not open his mouth.

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Wisdom is (A)too exalted for a fool,
He does not open his mouth (B)at the gate.

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26 Like snow in summer or (A)rain in harvest,
    so (B)honor is (C)not fitting for a fool.

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Similitudes and Instructions

26 Like snow in summer and like (A)rain in harvest,
So honor is not (B)fitting for a fool.

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(A)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and (B)a rod for the back of fools.
(C)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
(D)Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be (E)wise in his own eyes.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and (F)drinks violence.
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like one who binds the stone in the sling
    is (G)one who gives honor to a fool.
Like (H)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[a]
11 Like (I)a dog that returns to his vomit
    is (J)a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is (K)wise in his own eyes?
    (L)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:10 Or hires a fool or passersby

A (A)whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a (B)rod for the back of fools.
(C)Do not answer a fool [a]according to his foolishness,
Or you will also be like him.
(D)Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves,
So that he will not be (E)wise in his own eyes.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Chops off his own feet and drinks violence.
Like [b]useless legs to one who cannot walk,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
Like [c]one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is one who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thorn that [d]sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker,
So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 [e]Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is one who hires a fool or hires those who pass by.
11 Like (F)a dog that returns to its vomit,
So is a fool who (G)repeats [f]his foolishness.
12 Do you see a person (H)wise in his own eyes?
(I)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:4 I.e., taking his question or argument seriously
  2. Proverbs 26:7 Lit legs that dangle from one paralyzed
  3. Proverbs 26:8 Lit the binding of
  4. Proverbs 26:9 Lit goes up
  5. Proverbs 26:10 Or A master workman produces all things, But one who hires a fool is like one who hires those who pass by
  6. Proverbs 26:11 Lit with his

A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
    but (A)a fool's provocation is heavier than both.

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A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

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